Chain-link.



M. B. RYAN.

CHAIN LINK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1916.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

' vwautoz W s W $513 attoznegp To all whom it may concern:

MICHAEL 3. RYAN, OF MILFORD, CQNNECTICUT.

I CHAIN-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

I Application filed February 9, 1916. Serial No. 77,113.

Be it known that I, MICHAEL B. RYAN, of Milford, in the county of NewHaven and in the State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Chain-Links, and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention has been to provide a welded chain link whichshall have, amon other advantages, those of being adapte to the makingof a comparatively perfect weld; of requiring a minimum amount of wire,and of being free from shoulders or projections that are liable tocatch; and to such ends may invention consists in the welded chain linkhereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank adaptedto form my link;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of chain whose links embody myinvention, the links being plain; and,

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a section of chainin which the links aretwisted.

My invention is capable of embodiment in different forms, and while Ishall illustrate it by a description of two embodiments, it is to beunderstood that such embodiments are only typical of many otherembodiments of which it is capable, and my claims are not to berestricted thereto.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the blank 1 consists of a length of wirewhich is severed by diagonal cuts that form beveled faces 2 and 3 uponopposite ends of the blank, one of which slants upward and one of whichslants downward, so to speak. This blank is cheap to form since the outwhich severe the blank from the rod at the same time make both therearmost face on the severed blank and the foremost face on the nextblank to be severed. In fact, the blank is practically as cheap to formas if it merely had a squared end.

A link 4: (as shown in Fig. 2) is formed by bending the blank uponitself at each end until its beveled faces 2 and 3 are in contact witheach other, and until the ends of the blank rest upon the adjacentstrand 5 formed by the central portion of the link. Thus two eyes 6 and7 are formed, which are,'or may be, of equal size.

By welding the facesQ and 3 together,

the extremities of the link are converted into a continuous strand 8, sothat the link is, in eflect, a closed loop formed of one continuouswire, the strand 8 to be welded to the adjacent strand 5 by weldingeither one or both of the extremities to the strand 5.

If desired, the links, after being formed as shown in Fig. 2, or at thesame time as being so formed, may be twisted a shown in Fig. 3.

My chain link has the following advantages:

It is made with a minimum of wire, the length of the blank being nogreater than if it were originally formed in link shape instead of beingformed from a section of wire.

The link (when properly welded) is as strong as if it were first formedof a continuous loop.

Because of the freedom of escape of molten metal, both the weld betweenthe beveled faces of the ends of the blank, and that between the endsand the adjacent strand 5 of the link, can be perfectly formed andwithout blow-holes, bubbles or other weaknesses.

This double welding can be perfectly performed by a single operation.

The beveled ends of the blank not only permit a wire to be formed thatis as strong as if the wire were continuou originally, but it results ina joint having the shape and size of the wire itself, and thus withoutshoulders or projections that might catch and prevent the free runningof the chain, This advantage also avoids any necessity for finishing thelink to remove such shoulders or projections.

Applicants link is practically a double link, and is about twice as longas an ordinary open welded link made of the same size of wire, so thatit is in effect two links made with a single weld. If the link were madeopen with the same size of wire, the

wire would be likely to become distorted in use. The closing of the wiretogether, and welding at the middle of the link, braces the link againstbends and distortions to a considerable extent.

While applicants link is braced by welding, the welds running lengthwiseof the wire cause the strains to be straight in the direction of thelength of the wire, instead of twisted or crosswise, and thus the weldsare able to stand all of the strain which can be brought upon them, andthe welds instead of the weld.

I claim:

1. A chain link eomprisin a wire loop having a Side bent to extend a ongthe longitudinal axis of the loop, the ends of said wire forming the oposite side thereof being similarly bent to he along the first mentionedside, said ides being welded together at their contacting portions.

2. A chain link comprisin a wire 100 having a side bent to extend a ongthe longitudinal axis of the loop, the ends of said wire forming theopposite side thereof and being similarly bent to lie along the firstmentioned side, said sides being welded together at their contactinportions, and said ends being welded toget er.

3. A chain link comprising two end eyes connected'by contacting arallelside portions, the ends of said 1111]? meeting to form one side portion,said side portions being welded together at their points of'contact.

, 4. A chain link comprising two end eyes connected by contactingparallel side ortions, the ends of said link meeting to orm one sideportion, said side portions being welded together at their points ofcontact, and said ends being welded together.

5. A chain link comprising a wire strand in the shape of a loop havingends abuttin and lying alon one side of the loop, said ends being weldedto the above mentioned side of said 100p.

6. chain link comprising a wire strand in the shape of a loop havingends abutting and lying along one side of the loop, said v40 ends beingwelded to the above mentioned side of said loop and to each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

- M CHAEL B. RYAN. Witnesses:

ANNA Gmss.

